It was on a November Tuesday, in 1969. I know it was Tuesday because we were at the local white barn to shoot our weekly indoor 300 round. I know it was November because we were having a novelty shoot that night for hams and turkeys, and a few other sundry items donated or bought for the event. I know it was 1969 because I had my Shakespeare Titan..X-15 target bow that I bought that summer.

As I recall, we had a pretty good turnout with likely about thirty-five archers there. There was a variety of targets to shoot and every twenty minutes or so they had a price shoot at a particular target. There were no classes set up that evening so whoever shot the best got the price and mostly the freestyle guys were collecting the goods.

About midway through the night they put up a BB target at twenty yards and the prize would be a ten pound ham. When I looked down at that target it looked like a half- mile away from where I was standing so I didn't think I would even bother to shoot.

Guys would walk over and shoot one arrow and then another would come and do the same...only one allowed per archer. When they were all near done, one of the guys said, "come on George, you may as well waste an arrow like the rest of us". So, I did.

Sometimes heaven opens up despite our own misgivings. I pulled to anchor, held the bow toward the target....aimed somewhere within the county of Bedford, and left go of the string. That tiny little 1716 arrow hit spot-on, dead center on that BB target. The whole place went dead silent...they thought I did it on purpose I guess. ;).

Anyway, the back slapping commenced and I got to take home a fully cooked ham for the first time....the wife was thrilled. Yes, it was a huge part of luck and another part no pressure to hit that tiny target. About a month earlier I had missed a full grown doe at about fifteen yards by at least a foot. Go figure. :)

Love it George, great story indeed!.......Nim

Insert "prize" where price is. Heavy fingered I guess.

Love it...

Thanks for sharing George. I bet we all have had an experience like yours at least once. Unfortunately there isn’t always a ham for a reward. I tend to use the old saying about the blind squirrel finding an acorn once in a while

George, thanks for taking the time to share this story! Fun.

Aim Small, Miss Small.

Funny how a small target can attract your focus; add in a sense of “no pressure” to keep you from distracting yourself, and you end up in a different head-space...

Where some pretty cool things can happen!

how do you post a BB to shoot at?

That's a great rumination there.

Great story George!

Cool story! I did similar once too!

And like you ... I did NOT take a 2nd shot, LOL ... but kept 'em all guessing!

Nice story , good days, bad days and luck we all have it, thanks for the reminiscing and good shot that evening George. The ham has been recycled a long time ago.

Great story. Thanks

Good story George, sure enjoyed it!

“Even the blind squirrel can find a nut occasionally...”. Good story George and grab the ham and go home and eat it and shoot no more that day!

Good story...yep, sounds like the good ol’ days!

Great story George!

Thanks for the story. Loved it!

Great story took me back in time thanks George

Great story George.

A similar setup happened to me at OJAM a few years ago. There were several shooters at the target butts and one guy said something about eye dominance. A guy next to me opined that you MUST shoot with your dominant eye and that was why he switched to shooting left handed because he was left eye domninant. He then shot his arrow near to the canter of the 20yd target to prove his point.

I countered his claim that I too was left eye dominant and that it had litle to do with shooting accurately. I then drew my arrow and knocked the nock off of his arrow. He never said another word about eye dominance.

I will say that I was actually aiming for the center of the target about an inch left of his arrow but it worked out great.

This year will mark 55 years of chasing arrows for me. I have seen and heard a lot of claims but they do not work for all people.

I used to shoot a lot of competitive trap and a lot of newcomers would ask about form. I told them the form they use shooting is what is comfortable for the shooter.

Great story George, thanks for sharing. We don’t do enough fun shoots like that anymore down here...

I liked the story, good one George! Keep them coming.

Nice.

George, sounds awesome. I enjoyed your post.

November of '69 I was in the last year of college and engaged to the love of my life. We have been married for 49+ years.

It is interesting how archery calls me back after lulls ...getting an education, active duty training, raising a family, etc.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Jawge

I've had a few "Archery-God-Influenced" shots over the years and the most memorable ones were in front of archers with skill levels above my pay grade.

I don't call them lucky shots because I really was trying to hit where the arrow landed.

Good story George. I had a similar situation at a shoot many years ago and won a quiver with a 40 yard shot I could not replicate in 100 years. My shot was pure luck in my opinion.

My wife and I got married in November of '69 right after I got out of Viet Nam. Had 8 months left to do in the Army at Ft. Benning, Ga. Fun....not really. Frank

Whenever you make one of those great shots (luck lol) put down your bow and like it's normal, just don't take another shot.

George, I got a chuckle reading that, thank you.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here